summer idyll

After a busy week of work (running around New England), the gentleman and I finally have a few days of down time in Maine ~ reading, writing, beachcombing. Eating (it's a good year for strawberries!).

There's lots to share. . . houses, history, and more. But, it will all have to wait until next week. I am signing off for now ~ it's time to be with family and friends. Time to celebrate our Independence. Wishing those of you stateside a very happy holiday.

A good weekend to all!

up north

In Maine. . . for a bit of a break. Stopping in Boston and Salem along the way (finally had a chance to see the new Art of the Americas wing ~ fantastic!). We have been greeted by grey skies and chilly rain. However, there are bowls of fish chowder and hot haddock sandwiches to warm us up.

Some bits of wonderful from Beantown:

* extraordinary embroideries
* Old North Church
* the Printing Office of Edes & Gill
* and a good meal at Marliave

Cheers all.

the longest day

Welcome Summer (as of 1:16pm est)! Along with your hazy, lazy days. This was taken from my roof top around 9:30pm last night, just as the sun was giving up the day. I'll be top side again this evening, along with my stitching group. We'll greet the season with dinner and drinks (and maybe, maybe a little stitching).

Some things, just for fun:

* oh, the pleasure, the pain: busks
* and some old-time hotties (quite possibly the funniest thing I have seen in a long time)

Happy Solstice. . . what are you all up to?

june roses

At Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania this past weekend, the last of the June roses.

Some important bits of news:

* the Museum of Photographic Arts joins flickr commons
* the British Library goes digital!
* Inigo Jones is online (turn the pages)

. . . and just because it's monday ~ a wee bit of mystery to add intrigue to your day.

Cheers!

trouvée: white linen and boater hats

A tiny snapshot, with big style. Measuring just 2 x 1 1/4 inches. No inscription or date. Simply stamped: "Jenkin's Camera Shop / Jacksonville / Florida." {click image to view larger}

Some photo news:

* Billy the Kid goes to auction
* the "riot kiss" (mystery solved)
* and The Alice Behind Wonderland

Happy weekend!

Cheers.

all in the details

I love the textures and patterns of an old house ~ all the details that tell the story and reveal the history of a place. I am working on a house tour (it has been a busy week!). In the mean time (speaking of history):

* 300 years of Ascot fashion

* a trip to Old Salem
* and bringing new life to an old castle

Happy wednesday!

home sweet home

After a long week of travel, it is good to be home. Ahhh, time to unwind and reconnect with our lives. A day spent with friends, a dinner with neighbors, and a serious gardening session were in order!

The sunday market was bursting at the seams with yummy produce. Cucumbers, tomatoes, beets, fresh eggs, and fragrant lavender. And squash blossoms, that delicacy of summer ~ they hardly made it out of the bag before being stuffed and fried for lunch.

Stay tuned this week for a house tour, and a few other bits from my trip to the midwest.

Cheers!

an evening in st. paul

Hot and sultry in the Midwest! Traveling from Minnesota to Iowa and on to Nebraska, and it just keeps getting hotter in the heartland.

Just visible in the background of this photograph is the oldest extant house in St. Paul. Once the home to Justus Ramsey, an early Minnesota settler, it is now part of the patio at Burger Moe's (where they have a seriously yummy lamb burger with feta cheese and yogurt). Before that it served as a margarita bar for a Mexican restaurant, and the trim was painted a rather shocking pink! But the bones are still good, and there is hope for the old place.

Lots more to come. I'll be home soon.

Stay cool.

trouvée: the three graces

No inscription, no date. Barbara's beautiful women in white made me think to dig this snapshot out. There is just something about summer fabrics and soft breezes. Simply looking at this photograph makes me feel cooler. {click image to view larger}

Lots of goodies this week:

* New York is on the half-shell
* Stéphanie de Rougé is On your Roof (via Simply Photo)
* George Washington's garden is revamped
* and Mary Boykin Chestnut's Diary is reprinted (to mark the 150th anniversary of the beginning of the Civil War)

Here's wishing you a wonderful weekend. . . xo.

at home with the gentleman

. . . the 1882 John Crispe House. Perfectly curated, with the eye of an aesthete. Its restoration was a labor of love.

The library contains everything from 19th-century red leather and gilt bound gift books to early copies of Hints on Household Taste and The Book of Mormon.

{click images to view larger}

the long weekend

We are just home from Michigan, visiting the gentleman's family for the Memorial Day holiday. We cooked and grilled, and ate quite a feast ~ a real celebration with friends! And lest we forget why we remember this day, there was a home town parade complete with tractors and vintage cars decked out in their patriotic best.

The vegetable garden was just beginning to stir, but there were irises and coral bells in bloom, and fragrant chives. We came home with armfuls of peonies and fresh rhubarb ~ little reminders of those long summer days in western Michigan.

Three delicious bits of seasonal bounty:

* Keiko Oikawa (thanks to Emile for this link!)
* green gazpacho
* and Donna Hay's Seasons!

And tomorrow. . . a peek inside the old house in Michigan!

I hope you all had a good weekend.